Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-16
CAPT. CHARIEs GRATTAN.

4
CAPT. CHARLES GRATTAN,
of Augusta, who after presentation
by Col. Duke, made the best speech
of the day.
He interSpersed his statistics and
solid matter with striking SMILES
and several apt anecdotes, which
not only elected hearty applause,
but deserved it.
Commencing with an illusion to
the Scottish custom of summoning
the clans, he declared that the day
and hour had come when the free
men of Virginia should strike for
their deliverance. No time nor
place could be more appropriate.
The anniversary OF the declara-
ton of independence aud within
sight of the grave of the great au-
thor OF that instrument. were happy
conditions for the birth Of a new
spirit Of independence among those
who were feeling the yoke of tyr
amy, scarcely less CALLING than
that of the British sovereign. The
issue is In many respects the same.
Then, as now, the contest was
against taxation without represent
tati0n, and one hundred years later
the children of those who won that
fight dedicate themselves anew to
principle that found it's greatest
triumph, in the establishment Of
this government.
After adverting to the natural all.
vantages which Virginia presents,
the speaker said that the advice of
Horace Greedy, $50 west, young
man." contained a deal of sound
philosophy. The Interpretation of
the advice was: Go west, in order
that the products of your labor may
be nearer the eastern markets; for
the greater the distance the closer
the market under the operation OF
the discrimination practiced by the
railroad companies. God has plac-
ed us within hundred miles of the
sea, whilst the railroads have locat-
ed us beyond the Rocky mountains.
Not only do the railroads reap the
benefit from the extortion practiced
upon US, but by discrimination they
are thus enabled to offer extra in.
ducements to purchasers of their
western lands. They say to the
buyer, purchase Of US and we will
market your products for less than
it would cost if You we're in Virginia.
Some of that land has been reclaim
ed, but much more of it should re-
vert to the people. Gov. Wilson, of
w. Va, has prominently set forth
the practical results of the discrimi-
nation of which we. complain. He
shows that the cost of freight trans
portation from st. Louis to the sea.
board is s cents per 100 tbs., whilst
the cost from Hinton to the same
destination-one third the distance
lis 20 cents on the hundred The
cost of transporting a bushel of
wheat from st. Louis is 5 cents !;
from Hinton 121 cents. For load
of cattle from st. Louis S26; from
Hinton $50. Hay from st. Louis
$32 from Hinton $50. The same
relative discrimination as to the
other farm products. Here, then, is
the tribute paid to the railroads.
Take Hinton, for instance, which is
one-third of the distance from st.
Louis. Granting that some differ
ence should be made between the
long and short haul, and a fair esti-
mate would be one-half of the. cost
for one-third of the distance. On
the ordinary products of two hun
dred acre farm, the farmer would
pay a railroad tribute of 5000 more
than he should pay. There is where
the money goes.
If the railroad companies can
afford to transport at the long haul
rate, then they could afford to make
the short something like in proper
ton. If they lose money on the
long haul, then they rob US to make
up the deficiency.
They tell us that under the Inter
States bill the cost of transporta-
ton has been reduced from Is to 20
per cent. Let me tell you how it
operates. Not long ago / took a
load of cattle to Waynesboro to be
shipped to Richmond: The old
price was S35. When 1 asked the
charge, the reply was S105. / said
there must be mistake. The agent
communicated with head quarters,
and reported that he was not in
error. / drove the cattle home. and
published card in the Richmond
papers, setting forth the facts. -
Pretty soon the error. was discover
ed and the price reduced to the
original sum, S35. 1t is still higher
than is was before, for stockmen
were then given return passes, and
now under the operation of the new
law, they have to pay their fare.
| This makes the cost now about II
per cent. higher than it was before.
A commission merchant told me
that having an order from Hanover
county for ton of hay, he inquired
the freight rate from Stanton, and
was told that it would cost IS. He
didn't send the hay.
The effect of this is paralysis to
agriculture and consequent paralysis
to all branches of industry. The
remedy is in a thorough organiza-
tion of farmers, the enactment of a
rigid railroad law, such as Georgia
has, and which will enable us to
reap the rewards of our labors.-
twenty-five states now regulate
their railroads by statutes, and tits
time Virginia were arousing from
her long, exhausting sleep.